APTA trainings to increase the level of implementation of "sustainable tourism" and "green technologies"
The new project "MOST - A model for sustainable tourism in Central Asia: Building Capacities, Creating Awareness, Introducing technology" aims to increase the tourism potential of the Central Asian countries. This project is being implemented within the framework of the European Union initiative "Switch Asia".
To implement the project tasks, at the first stage, applications from participants in training sessions were collected and a training course was organized for representatives of travel companies and the hotel business, which takes place in the format of webinars.
For the successful implementation of the project, a strong team of effectively working organizations from 6 countries (Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) was formed. In Uzbekistan, the Association of private tourism agencies of Uzbekistan (APTA) was selected as the executing organization for the project.
Participant certification training focuses on the following standards:
• ISO 14001: 2015 (Environmental Management System);
• HCMI (Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative). It is a methodology and toolkit designed for the hospitality industry;
• CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
Currently, Uzbekistan pays special attention to the modernization of the tourism industry, the development and improvement of the regulatory framework for the sustainable development of this industry, the organization of services for foreign guests in accordance with international standards.
The strategic goal of the project is to raise environmental awareness and introduce appropriate practices and technologies in the hotel business in Central Asia. As part of the implementation of project tasks, it is planned to provide methodological and technical support to accommodation facilities by providing relevant knowledge and ICT tools.
As part of educational events, participants were trained according to the GSTC criteria for sustainable tourism, corresponding to the standards and specifics of green procurement to increase competitiveness.
Also, specialists receive additional knowledge on the topics of environmental management at tourism enterprises. This means that the level of sustainable tourism and the degree of implementation of "green technologies" in the hotel business in the Republic of Uzbekistan will steadily increase.
Source: uzbektourism.uz